Aeroplane.



E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROPLANE.v

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1916.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

a SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. F. GALLAUDET.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21. I916.

a SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 16,

Atty

E. F. GALLAUDET'.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I, I916.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918. 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

. Inventor: WQME Atty 6M; 94 f l mhy STATES PATENT OFFICE. 'Enson r. GALIIIIXUDVET, or nonwrcn, CONNECTICUT, .assienon T GALLA-UDET Amman-.1 coaroaarron, or New YORK, N. Y., aconronanon or NEW vonx.

AEROPLAN E.

To all evhom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, EDsoN F. GALLAUDET,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town'of Norwich, in the county of New London and State ofConnecticut,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes', of which the following is a specification. .a

My present invention relates to flying machines of the aeroplane type,-and more particularly to the construction: of the body portion of such m'achinesand .to the mountmg of the propeller thereon.

The main ob ect of the invention is to provide a body for a flying machine, of

stream li-ne form adapted to house and proteet the motor or motors and associated power ,mechanism, which shall be both strongand light in construction and upon which the propeller is so mounted thatjit will be held rigidly in alinement with the power-shaft or shafts, that it will -be protected lar ely from injury, and that it will assist in t e cooling of the one onmore motors employed.

J ith this end in-view the invention comprises certain novel features'of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and distinctly" set so forth in the appended claims.

drawings, which In the accompanying form a part of this speclfication and where in my improvements are shown, by way of illustration merely, as embodied in a bi- 85 plane machine,

Figure 1 1s a plan view, more or. less diagrammatic, of the complete machine; Fig. 2,

a section on the linej2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the body of the machine inside elevation;

Fig. 3, a detail, in longitudinal section on theline 3 3 of Fig. 4, showing the mounting of, the propeller and Fig.4, a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

, Referring to the drawings, the machine illustrated comprises, as its principal parts,

the upper and lower supporting planes W W, the body -B, mounted between the supporting planes and provided with suitable running gear, the propeller P, and the usual rear elevating planes E E and vertical steering rudder S.

The hollow body of the machine, preferably'pisciform or torpedo-shaped as shown,

is formed'bya thin shell of suitable mater al, t l for xa pl hich i made in or Specification of Letters Patent.

pit opening or openings 3 in its upper side forward, for the operator and hisassistant, and within this section is mounted the power mechanism which comprises (as shown. in

' dotted, lines only) two gas engines M M and radiator R and fuel supply tank T, the

radiator being set across the interior of the Patented Apr. 16,1918. fa ncaaon fil ed April 21'; 1am. Seria lNo.92,597.

body in front of the engines. The-sides of the tail section, which'carries the 'steerin rudder, and elevating planes are pierce and upset to provide louver-lilxeopenings 4 therein, or, in place of these openings, the bottom of this section of the body may be left more or less open.v

Within the rear end of the main body sec tion, which is reinforced and stiffened iriternally by three flangedrings 5, 6, and 7 is mounted a drum 8. This drum, provided with outwardly projecting flange9 at its forward and inwardly projecting flange 10 at its 'rear ends and an intermediate outwardly projectingflange 11, is held rigidly in place co-axial' with the longitudinal axis of the body and extending somewhat beyond the .end of the main body section by means of two sets of radial arms 12 and 13 which are-respectively boltedvor otherwise secured at' their outer ends 'to the'flanged rings 5 and .6 and at their inner ends to the flanges 9 and 11 on the drum. A second drum 14,

of the same diameter as the first and provided with outwardly and inwardly projecting flanges 15 and 16 at its forward end andfwith outwardly projecting flange 17 at its rear end, issimilarly mounted within and substantially flush. with the forward end of the tail section of the body by means of two sets of radial arms -18 and 19 which are respectively. secured at their outer ends to two flanged rings 20 and 21 attached to the walls of the body section and at their inner ends to the flanges 15 and 17 on the drum. This second drum is preferably closed at its rear end, to prevent the passage of air,'by a plate 22 which may be provided with suitable small openin (not shown) through which to pass the wlres used "for the Icontrol of the steering rudder and elevating planes.

The two sections of the body (after the propeller and its ball bearings, presently to be described, have been assembled and placed in position) are secured together by bolting the flanged front end of the drum 14 to the flanged rear end of the drum 8,

leaving. a narrow annular opening in the walls of the body between the ad acent ends of its main and tail sections within which the blades of the propeller revolve.

the annular plates and project outwardly" through the opening left in the walls of the body. Between or alternating with the propeller blades, and similarly secured to the spool, are one (as here shown) or more short fan-blades 28, and bridge-pieces 29 in the form of segments ofan annular plate, beara ing against the outer ends of the intermediate fan-blade or blades, and secured by their flanged ends to the propeller blades to bridgethe-opening left in the walls and so maintain thecon'tour ot the body.

' Meshing with the teeth on the forwardend of thepropeller spool is a pinion 30 "fixedto the-rear end of a power-shaft 31 which is journaled'in ball-bearings 32 and 33 suitably mounted, the former in one of the lower radial arms 12 and the latter in a corresponding arm l3 which support the forward drum. The flanged front end of this shaft is operatively connected in an v suitable-manner, preterably'by a cone-clutc or other slightly flexible couplingi to the shaft of the one M. A secon pinion 30, also meshing with the teeth of the propeller spool, is ed upon the end of a power-shaft, corresponding to the shaft 31, which is similarly journaled in ball-bearings mounted in one ofthelower radial arms 12 and 13 on the opposite. side of the body and con led to the shaft of the engine M.

' e various. parts described may be made i of any suitable material, but, for the two drums, the pro eller spool, and the driving pinions, ll pre er to use the best chrome nickel steel, heattreate'd. In practice, also,

- T prefer to stifien the construction by longitudinally cross-bracing each of the two sets of radial arms which support the drums,

show such cross-bracing.

It will be seen that by theconstruction although l have deemed it unnecessary to above described ll secure what is in efiect a light armored body, substantially inclosed on all sides and of stream line form, which houses and at the same time protects the enopening adapte narrate-a.

gines and practically all of the power mech-' anism. The propeller, with only its blades projecting outside the body, is not only protected from serious injury but also serves as an exhaust fan tocool the engines, drawing air in at the cock-pit openings and back through the radiator past the engines and through the annular channel between the drums and the walls of the body, and exhausting it through the louver openings in the sides or through the open bottom of the tail section. Furthermore, a' plurality of engines, one or all of which maybe used as desired, are directly connected by spur gears to the single propeller, thus securing a maximum of efliciency and elasticity of power, while the power shafts and driving pinions are rigidly held in fixed alinernent with the propeller spool no matter what "the stresses to which the body of the machine may be subjected. Still other advantages will be apparent to a manufacturer or practised operator.

While I have explained the principle of I my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to be the best form in which to embody that principle, it

will be understoodthat the invention may be variously modified in its several arts, within the sco e of the appended c aims,

' 'without departing from the spirit or sacri ficing the advantages thereof.

What ll claim as new-,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. In a flying machine, an elongated body which is substantially inclosed on all sides, a gas engine mounted within the body, a radiator for the engine set entirely across the interior of the body forward of the engine, and a propeller which is mounted within the body to the rear of and in operative connection with the engine and with blades projecting outwardly through a transverse in thejwalls. of the body and is to draw airthrough the radiator and assist in the cooling of the engine.

2. llna flying machine, an elongated rearwardly 'taering body the walls of which are formed by a steel shell substantially inclosing it on all sides and power mechanism including a propeller and a gas engine and a radiator therefor mounted within the body, the radiator being set entirely across the'body in front of the engine and the propeller being mounted to the rear of the engine'co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the body with blades projecting outwardly through a transverse opening provided therefor in the walls and adapted tose'rve 5 as a fan to assist in the cooling of the engme.

3.' In a dying machine, a hollow pisciform body, a plurality of gas engines mounted side by side within the body, a radiator for the eng ne set oss th inte i r engines with the propeller.

body forward of the engines, a propeller mounted within the body to the. rear of the engines with blades projecting outwardly through a transverse opening in the walls of the body and adapted to draw air through opening provided therefor in its walls, a

plurality of engines mounted within the body, and means located within the body for operatively connecting each or all of the 5. In a flying machine, an armored body substantially of stream line form, a propeller mounted within the body coaxialwith its longitudinal axis and with bladespro: jecting outwardly through a transverse opening in. its walls, a plurality of driving shafts geared to the hub of the propeller and mounted to rotate in bearings rigidly secured in position" relative to the bearings of the propeller, a plurality ofv engines mounted within the body, and means for cfiu ling each engine with one of the driving s a ts.

6. In a flying machine, an elongated hollow body of substantially stream line form divided transversely into front and rear sections, a hollow cylindrical drum rigidly mounted within the adjacent ends of. the two body sections coaxial therewith and serving to unite them together, and a propeller mounted to rotate upon the drum with blades projecting outwardly'between the adjacent ends of the-body sections.

In a flying machine, an elongated hollow body of substantially streamline form divided transversely into front and rear seci tions, a hollow cylindrical drum :rigidly mounted within the rear end of the front body section, a propeller mounted to rotate upon the drum immediately behind the rear end of the front body section, adriving shaft geared to the hub of the propeller and mountedto rotate in bearings rigidly secured between the drum and the walls of the body section, and means for securing the rear body section to the drum immed ately ed co-axially within and extends slightly beyond the rear end of the main body section and to. the rear end of which the tall section of the body is secured so as ,toleave a narrow transverse opening between the forward edge of its walls and the rear edge of the walls of the main. body section, a

propeller which is mounted to rotate upon the rear extended end of :thedrum with blades pro]ecting outwardly through the opening between the adjacent edges'of .the

walls of the main and tail body sections, and means for operatively connecting the propeller to a source of power located within the forward main body section. 9. In a flying machine,-anfelongated rearwardly tapering body with walls formed by a shell which is dividedtran sversely to pro vide a forward main body section and a rear tail section, a drum whlch 1s rigidly mounted by means of radial arms co-axially within and extends slightly beyond the rear end of the main body section and to the rear end of'which the tail section ofthe body is secured, a propeller which is mount ed to rotate upon the rear extended end of thedrum with blades projecting outwardly through an opening left between the. adjacent edges of the walls of the main and tail body sections, and 'a power-shaft geared to the propeller which is= journaled in bearings mounted in the radial arms which secure the drum and is adapted to be operatively connected to the shaft of an engine located within the forward main section of the body.

IO. In a flyingmachine, a hollow pisciform body which is divided into front and rear sections, a drum which unites the two body sections and provides a bearing for a propeller coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the body, and a propeller mounted to rotate upon the drum which has propeller blades extending outwardly betweenthe two body. sections beyond their walls and, intermediate said blades, bridging pieces adapted .to maintain the contour of the body and fan pieces. v

11. In a flying machine, an elongated an inclosed forward main bod adapted to receive and house t e power mechanism and a rear tail section which is secured to the forward section near the lon; gitudinal axis of the body so as to leave a narrow transverse opening in the walls between the adjacent ends of the two sect ons, a propeller which is mounted co-axlally within the body opposite and with propeller blades projecting outwardly through the said opening in its walls and is provided intermediate 'the propeller blades, with fan blades and with bridge-pieces adapted to bridge. the opening therein and maintain the contour of the body, and a. power-shaft geared to the propeller which is ournaled in bearingsholding iadapted to be. operatively connected by a blades extending outwardly to the bridging v rearwardly tapering body which comprises sectlon it rigidly in position parallel to the ax-isof the propeller and is.

flexible coupling to the shaft of an engine located in the forward body. I I a 12. In a flying machine, an elongated rearwardly tapering'body which is substantially inclosedand armored by a steel shell d1- vided transversely into a forward main body section adapted to receive and house the power-mechanism and a rear tail section a steel drum which is rigidly mounted by means of radial arms co-axially within and extending slightly beyond the rear end of the main body section and to the rear end of, which the tail section-of thebody is secured, a propeller which is mounted to ro tate upon the rear extended end of the drum with its blades projecting outwardly through an opening left between the adjamain section of the .cent edges of the walls of the main and tail body sections and which intermediate its blades is provided with fan blades and with bridge-pieces adapted to bridge the said opening left in the walls and maintain the coni tour of the body, and a power-shaft which is geared to the propeller and journaled in bearings holding it rigidly in position parallel to the axis of the propeller and is adapted to be operatively connected to the shaft'of an engine located in the forward main section of the body; 1

13. In a flying machine, a hollow body of substantially stream line form divided transversely into two sections, a hollow cylindrical drum of smaller diameter rigidlyy mounted within the inner end of one section coaxial therewith and projecting therefrom, means uniting the other body section to the-projecting end of the drum,

answer a propeller mounted to rotate upon the drum between the two body sections, a driving shaft geared to the propeller and journaled in bearings located within the first mentioned' body section and rigidly secured in position relative to the drum, an engine mounted within the first mentioned body section, and means for flexibly coupling the engine with the driving shaft.

14:. In a flying machine, a hollow body of substantially stream line form divided transversely into two sections, a hollow cy-,

lindrical drum of smaller diameter rigidly mounted within the. inner end of one body section coaxial therewith and projecting therefrom, means for uniting the other body section to the projecting end of the drum, two driving shafts geared to the propeller and journaled in bearings located within the first mentioned body section and rigidly secured in position relative to the drum, two

engines mounted within the first mentioned body section, and means for flexibly couof the body and an engine mounted within one of the bodysections, and a propeller 'mounted to rotate upon the drum between the two body sections and. operatively connectedwith the engine.

EDSON F. GALLAUDET. 

